lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU A man who said he didn’t know a Makena beach was closed when he went hiking and swimming there last year was acquitted of violating public health emergency rules in the pandemic.
A 2nd Circuit Court jury returned verdicts Feb. 4, also finding Jamal Strom not guilty of failing to abide by posted signs designating a closed area.
Strom, 49, of Lahaina asked for a jury trial after he was issued citations for the offenses May 9.
“Law enforcement has been a little bit overly aggressive towards the people of Maui and should issue more warnings, rather than always charging people with crimes,” Deputy Public Defender David Pullman said after the verdicts were announced.
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU A man who had $120 in cash when he went to a Kihei resort to meet an “escort” was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine after he was arrested in a police sting operation.
Gilbert Natividad, 45, of Kihei was among 10 men arrested in what police called a reverse prostitution operation targeting “johns” or customers.
“Looks like you were looking for love in all the wrong places or, rather, looking for sex in all the wrong places,” 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo said Dec. 11 in sentencing Natividad.
He was sentenced after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of prostitution.